APPENDIX D
Appendix DAlexander Speer Letters
WILLIAM SPEER (1747-1830)
ABBEVILLE COUNTY
SOUTH CAROLINA
HIS LIFE, FAMILY AND
DESCENDANTS
Compiled and Written By
Wade Edward Speer
With Special Help From
George William Whitmire, Sr., Jacksonville, Florida
William Arthur Speer, Jr., Atlanta, Georgia
Portraits By Edward Shanon Wood, Asheville, North Carolina
Published By
Wade Edward Speer
Marion, North Carolina
1998
ORDER YOUR OWN BOOK
OR ADDITIONAL COPIES
Order From:
Ed Speer
34 Clear Creek Road
Marion, NC 28752-9423
(828) 724-4444
e-mail: [email protected]
Enlargements of Portraits By Shanon Wood Also Available Suitable for Framing
Call Write E-Mail for Prices Payment Shipping
Payment Must be Received Before Shipment Can Be Made
NOTES FOR ONLINE BOOK VERSION
Original page numbers did not survive the file conversion to the Internet-ready html format.
Some editing of the original text has been done, such as correcting typos and eliminating unnecessary line spaces.
All images, including portraits, tombstone sketches, house sketches, and signature tracings have been omitted; however the text accompanying the images is retained.
The William Speer Descendent report (Chapter 1) has been omitted. A greatly updated version can be found at:
http://www.familytreemaker.com/ftm/s/p/e/Wade-E-Speer/index.html
http://hometown.aol.com/wspeer1161/myhomepage/heritage.html
{Wade E Speer July 20, 2000}
APPENDIX D
ALEXANDER SPEER LETTERS
The following seven letters concern Alexander Speer2 (1790-1856), who was South Carolina's Comptroller General from 1827 to 1830. The letters relate to Alexander's attempts to secure reimbursement from the US Government for South Carolina's expenses during the War of 1812. As the state's chief financial officer, Alexander traveled to Washington, DC and submitted a claim to President Andrew Jackson and the US Congress.
The following transcripts were prepared from Alexander's final report submitted to the South Carolina Legislature in 1830. The report is housed in the Manuscript Division of the South Caroliniana Library, Columbia, SC, which has given permission to publish these transcripts. The Caroliniana manuscripts include hand written originals and copies prepared by Alexander Speer for his 1830 report to the Legislature. A published typed version of the detailed war expenses can be found in the closed-shelves section of the same library. Only the hand written manuscripts are transcribed here.
Minor editorial changes have been made to enhance readability. Uncertain words are marked by '(?)', while unknown words are indicated by '??????'.
TRANSCRIPTION OF OCTOBER 31, 1827 LETTER
SC Comptroller General Alexander Speer to SC Governor John Taylor
Addressed to: His Excellency, John Taylor, Esquire; Columbia
Return address: Comptroller General's Office, Columbia
31 October 1827
His Excellency John Taylor, Esquire
Sir
I herewith transmit for your Excellency's perusal a report which I have prepared for the Legislature on the subject of the claims of the State of South Carolina against the United States, an account of expenditure, during the last war with Great Britain. If your Excellency wish any particular explanation, on being notified, I will attend with the exhibits with pleasure. The account claimed being of considerable importance to the finances of the State, and in my opinion so clearly equitable and just, I thought it probable that you would think it of sufficient importance to introduce it into your message to the Legislature at the ensuing session. The investigation of this claim coming to it, as the late(?) ?????? which I did, has been to me a matter of considerable difficulty, and I regret to say not as satisfactory as I could have wished. If we receive no further payments on expenditures made by this State during the last war, we will not only have make a loosing ?????? of the whole transaction, but will likewise be worst treated by the General Government than our sister States. From knowledge however of the sentiments of many prominent individuals in Congress on this question, I have a ?????? conviction that in order to obtain the payment of a great portion of these claims, it is only necessary to prosecute them. With the highest respect I remain your excellency's obedient servant.
Alexander Speer
Comptroller General
TRANSCRIPTION OF DECEMBER 15, 1829 LETTER
SC Governor Stephen D. Miller to US President Andrew Jackson
Addressed to: The President of the United States
Return address: Executive Department, Columbia
15 Dec 1829
My Dear Sir:
The State of South Carolina has a claim against the United States for advances made during the late War. I have been directed, by Resolution of the Legislature, to request the friendly consideration of this claim by the President and his recommendations to Congress for its payment, should it comport with his sense of justice.
A. Speer, Esq., our principal fiscal officer is constituted a Special Agent to attend at Washington and superintend the investigations incident thereto, to whom you are referred for information.
It cannot have escaped your recollection how immediate was the danger of the whole Southern Country during the late War, when the British fleet hovered on our coast, after the capture of Washington. The United States were under the most solemn and Continental obligation to protect this State which they were unable to do, and left us to our own resources.
In the liquidation of the advances made by us, interest was withheld, and many items rejected on account of their informality.
The immense sacrifice which is made to the General Government during peace, for protection during war, ought to ?????? a ?????? course on the ?????? of that Government, which omitted to do what the Constitution enjoined upon it.
It was entirely uncertain, for some time, whether Charleston, or Savannah, or New Orleans would be the object of the attack of the British when they left the Chesapeake. That a deep ?????? should have been felt and the most energetic means devised by South Carolina in this crisis was to be expected. But that the accounts of this State should be subject to such a rule as it would exclude many bona fide, belligerent expenditures, could not be fairly anticipated. To your own knowledge of the difficulty, as well as to a sense of justice and the pledged faith of the General Government, we append for a prompt and final liquidation of the balance that's due.
With great regard I am, Divine Sir,
Your most obedient servant Stephen D. Miller
TRANSCRIPTION OF DECEMBER 23, 1829 LETTER
SC Comptroller General Alexander Speer to US President Andrew Jackson
Addressed to: His Excellency, Andrew Jackson, President of the United States Washington
23 Dec 1829
Dear Sir
The undersigned, having arrived in this place, delegated as an agent by the State of South Carolina, for the purpose of prosecuting her claims on the General Government, growing out of military disbursements made during the last war, begs leave pursuant to his instructions, to submit for your Excellency's consideration, the accompanying letter from the Governor of the State on the subject.
The object of this application as you will readily perceive, is to obtain from your Excellency if agreeable to your sense of propriety and justice, a special message to Congress on the matter, in order if possible during this session, to bring this claim, heretofore so harassing(?) to South Carolina, to a close. For this purpose the undersigned begs leave, to submit to your consideration, at any time when it may comport (agree) with your leisure, the documents relating to the subject, and will at all times hold himself in readiness to give any information in his power.
With the highest respect I remain your obedient servant.
Alexander Speer
agent of So. Carolina
TRANSCRIPTION OF JANUARY 2, 1830 LETTER
SC Comptroller General Alexander Speer to US President Andrew Jackson
Addressed to: His Excellency, Andrew Jackson, President of the United States, Washington
2 January 1830
Dear Sir
When the Legislature of South Carolina, directed the Executive of that State to apply to your Excellency for a special message to Congress on the subject of its claim against the General Government, it did so under the impression, that there probably would be no difficulty in relation to the merits of what appeared to it a plain and meritorious demand. The Government of South Carolina would not, nor did not, expect you to advocate a principle, that you might think improper, and of course only expected your interference in its favor, if you came to the conclusion I confidently believed you would, after examining personally the nature of its demands. If however Sir, there are any difficulties in the way, which make it improper for you to interfere in our favor, will you be so good as to order the papers to be returned to me, that I may proceed in the discharge of the duty appointed me by the Government of that State, and by minimal endeavor to obtain from Congress, a restitution of the funds advanced to the use of the Federal Government by South Carolina at a period when the coffers of the former were utterly exhausted. With the highest respect I remain your most obedient servant.
Alexander Speer
agent of So Carolina
TRANSCRIPTION OF MAY 26, 1830 LETTER
SC Representative George McDuffie to SC Comptroller General Alexander Speer
Addressed to: Alexander Speer, Esq, Church HillAbbeville, So. Ca.
Return address: From Geo. McDuffie
Post Mark: Washington City May 27
H. R. 26 May 1830
My dear Sir:
It is now certain that the claims of the State will not be taken up this Session, and I appraise you of the fact, that you may not be any longer kept in suspense about coming on to receive the money.
It has been utterly impossible to prevail upon the House to take up a single case of a public nature, on the common order of the day. Our case is pretty high up on those orders and will come up early next session.
I hope the rumors I have heard of favorable seasons for plenty in So. Ca. will be confirmed by appearance when I return. I cannot be in Abbeville before the 15th or 20th of June. I intend putting out on friday, but I shall have to proceed very slowly and go by the way of Atlanta where my wife will remain.
I shall have a great deal to say to you when I return. South Carolina must take some decisive step or be utterly enslaved and ruined.
Yours Sincerely
Geo. McDuffie
TRANSCRIPTION OF AUGUST 30, 1830 REPORT
SC Comptroller General Alexander Speer to The SC Legislature
To the Honorable, The Legislature of South Carolina, the undersigned as agent for and in behalf of the State in prosecuting the claims of So Carolina against the General Government for and on account of war expenditure, begs leave to submit the report.
Having arrived in Washington in December last, I immediately submitted to the consideration of his Excellency the President of the U. S. the documents and papers necessary to a proper understanding of the nature of our demand, together with a letter from his Excellency the Governor and one from myself (see no. 1) explaining the reasons of the application, and requesting, if it comported with his ideas of justice, that he would make a special message to Congress on the subject. After waiting for several days I was induced to believe that there was some difficulty in complying with the request, and addressed a second note (see no. 2) requesting him in that case to return me the documents, in order that I might proceed by memorial in the discharge of the duty assigned me. After another delay of some days, I introduced a memorial into each house, and immediately his Excellency the President sent a message to Congress on the claim, recommending it to the favorable consideration of that Body, and urging the propriety of its payment. It is here proper to remark as I afterwards ascertained that the delay on the part of his Excellency was unavoidable, growing out of the nature of the investigation itself, as well as the press of other matters, and however much we may regret the loss of time so essential to the successful prosecution of matters of this kind before Congress, yet we have the gratification to know that it was attended to, as promptly as possibly.
The memorials together with the message of his Excellency on the claims were referred to the Committees on Military Affairs in each House, and by each of the Committees were acted on at the earliest possible period. From the Committee in the Senate we obtained a report, the same in substance, as that which had been agreed to at the previous session; and which recognizes the whole of our demand except the item for Blankets. From the Committee in the House of Representatives we succeeded in obtaining without a dissenting vote a report with more favorable recognition of the justice of the whole claim, as will be seen by referring to the report itself, a printed copy of which is herewith submitted marked no. 3; and bills pursuant to these reports were introduced into each of the Houses of Congress, read a first and second time and heard upon the General orders of the day.
On consultation with our delegation, little or no doubt was felt of the passage of either of these bills, and as the one in the House was most favorable, and in our opinion most consonant with the principles of justice, we determined to let that in the Senate rest, and forego the forum. It is true that in doing so we run a quarter hazard of postponing the decision of the question, to another session, than we would have done, by proceeding with the bill from the Senate, but we did not think this of sufficient importance to ?????? our ?????? for the following reasons.
When the bill in the Senate was first called up for consideration, the two Virginia Senators, both of who were friendly, were absent in the Virginia Convention and it was thought best to await their arrivals, ?????? order to do which we were compelled to lay the bill on the Table, a situation which under the rules of the Senate is regarded as unfavorable, as a paper thus placed has afterwards to come up by Committee and not of ??????.
In addition to this, by prosecuting the bill from the house, we had a fair prospect of obtaining payment for the blankets, a sum equal in principal and interest to about $18,000, and which we had much less chance of succeeding with, if we attempted to introduce it, by way of amendment to the bill in the Senate, experience having shown that in matters of this kind it is exceedingly difficult to amend the report of a Committee: and we regarded this item of too much importance to be abandoned without ceremony, particularly as in our opinion it stood upon as high ground as any other item in the demand. Another circumstance which somewhat influenced our cause was the fact that if it should turn out that we failed for the session, and the demand had to lay over, still the State would not be much a looser, a large part of our demand being for interest, and that still accumulating, would furnish some equivalent for the time lost and these reasons taken together furnish the motives for the cause we pursued.
Having succeeded so far in placing the claim on the most favorable footing in each house of Congress, and where afterwards it would have to be controlled and managed exclusively by the members of that body, it was deemed unnecessary to stay longer in Washington; accordingly after consulting with the State Delegation I returned to So. Carolina, with a distinct understanding, that if the bill passed during the session, I should return immediately to Washington in order to make the final settlement with the proper department; and for this purpose I held myself ready for the balance of the session. Contrary however to expectation this bill was not reached on the orders of the day during the balance of the term, and about the close of the session, I received a letter from the Hon. George McDuffie (see no. 4) making this statement and giving the reasons therefore, insinuating at the same time that it would come up early the next year.
Having thus in a summary way stated the proceedings had on this claim during the last year, together with its present condition, it remains that I close this report, with a few observations on the subject generally. In the first place the items, the character and magnitude of the demand will be fully understood, by a reference to the Reports of the Committees in Congress on the subject, and to them I beg leave to refer, as furnishing a better explanation of the matter than I could give, without too much lengthening out this report. The amount of the demand as recognized by the bill in the house may be put down at $20,000, rather more than half of which accrued on account of interest; and of its final payment there can now be no doubt, in the minds of those who are acquainted with the history of similar transactions: nor can I see, how it can be postponed beyond the ensuing session, without trifling with the interests of the State and the principles of Justice.
The papers and documents in relation to this claim are all analyzed, printed and in possession of the house; together with the report and bill, and will be taken up the next session precisely where they were left off the last. I regret that the account could not have been closed during the last year; but the delay was unavoidable and entirely beyond our control, and indeed the little experience I have had, satisfied me that a good stock of patience is an essential ingredient in the character of any one who has the management of matters of this king before any Legislature body whatever. The cases cannot be urged out of their order, without increasing the changes of rejection, as it creates a prejudice in the minds of members, who have favorite schemes of their own to carry.
From our members of Congress generally I received every assistance in their power to give, more particularly from the Hon. R. Y. Wayne and William Dayton, who having great personal knowledge of the transactions out of which the claim originated, had it in their power to be most useful, and abundantly shewed by their conduct, that where the interest or the honor of the State was concerned, it would suffer nothing by being committed to their hands. I would be doing injustice to my own feelings also, did I not acknowledge the kind assistance received from the Hon. J. C. Calhoun, whose opinion has uniformly been that since the passage of the Virginia claims, So. Carolina could not be rejected.
All of which is respectfully submitted by
Alexander SpeerChurch Hill, Abbeville Dist 30 August 1830
P.S. Certain papers and documents now in my possession in relation to this claim will be deposited in the Comptroller's Office.
TRANSCRIPTION OF SEPTEMBER 29, 1830 LETTER
SC Comptroller General Alexander Speer to SC Governor Stephen D. Miller
Addressed to: His Excellency Stephen D. MillerPlane Hillnear Camden
Return address: Church Hill, Abbe., SC
29 Sep 1830
Dear Sir
I beg leave to report to your Excellency in a more detailed manner than I yet have done, the situation of the claims of the state against the General Government an account of war expenditure. Pursuant to the instructions of the Legislature I arrived in Washington in December last and immediately laid your Excellency's letter, together with the other documents necessary to a proper understanding of the nature of our demand, before the President of the United States, requesting if it comported with his views of Justice, that he would make a special message to Congress on the subject. After waiting some days, and understanding that the President had some difficulty in the matter, and knowing that time was all important to us, I determined to proceed by memorial, and accordingly presented one to each house of Congress about the first of January. Immediately after the presentation of the memorials, the President made a message to the Senate in our favor, and urged the demand upon the friendly consideration of Congress. The memorials had been referred in both houses to the Committees on Military Affairs, and from both of which Committees we succeed in obtaining favorable reports accompanied by both bills, which were read a first and second time and placed on the General Order of the day. The Committee in the Senate adopted its former report agreeing to pay us our whole demand except the item of Blankets. The Committee of the house of Representatives without a dissenting vote agreed to pay the whole demand including the Blankets and drew that bill accordingly so that by it, the State would receive about $20,000 more than could be derived from the bill in the Senate: the whole amount of the money which the State would receive if this bill passed in the shape reported would be about $20,000. After consulting our delegation on the subject it was thought most advisable to let the bill in the Senate rest, and urge forward that of the House, as there was little doubt that the Senate would agree to any bill on the subject sent to that body, by the House of Representatives. It is true that by taking this course we in some measure hazarded the passage of the bill during the session; but we regarded the sum of $20,000 as too large to throw away and as a sufficient compensation for the dangers of postponement: more particularly as the interest which forms a large item is our due and would still be accumulating. Another reason which influenced our course was the absence of the Virginia Senators, so that when the bill was taken up in order in the Senate, we had to lay it on the Table, as we did not wish to act without them present. Had the bill from the Senate been passed on, there can be little doubt that it would have secured the sanction of both houses during the session, as is shown by the passage of the Massachusetts claim which started at the same time, but a necessary consequence would have been the loss of the sum above referred to: and it was the opinion of the delegation from our State that the bill from the house would have ample time for passage.
Having obtained reports from both Committees, and seeing the claim fairly under way in the houses, together with the fact that all the documents in relation to it were printed and on the table, the presence of an agent ?????? to: be necessary until after the passage of the law. I therefore returned home, after having made an arrangement with the members who managed the claims to notify me immediately of its passage, in order that I might return to Washington for the purpose of making a settlement with the War Department, and for this purpose I held myself in readiness the balance of the session. At the close of the session however I received a letter from the Hon. George McDuffie, informing me that it was impossible, owing to the Indian and other questions to get the claim up out of its regular order; that it could not be reached during the session, and consequently would have to stand over until the next, and therefore that it would be unnecessary for me to return. This information was not a little mortifying because I felt perfectly certain that if it was rescheduled on the docket, there would be no difficulty with ??????, and I was particularly anxious to bring it to a close.
As to the final issue of this demand, I think there can now be no doubt, and we have a right to expect that the money will be obtained during next winter, and from the present situation of the claim, there can be little use for a further agency. From our delegation in Congress I have in all cases received that aid and assistance which was necessary, and for which they have my thanks, more particularly General Haynes, Judge Smith, ?????? Drayton, and ?????? McDuffie, and with whom I had the most conference on the subject.
The House of Representatives of So. Car. have determined that this agency is a disqualifying office, and as I am a candidate for the Legislature, I ?????? this opportunity of tendering to your Excellency my resignation of this appointment of Agent of the State of So. Car. for prosecuting this claim, and at the same time beg you to accept assurances of my highest respect.
Alexander Speer
P.S. Some time ago I reported to you some arms that were in an exposed situation in the western part of Abbeville, and I think you informed me afterwards that you had ordered General Ware to return them to the arsenal. No attention had been paid to them, and sometime since, ????? the agency of my brother John Speer I had them collected and they are now in his store, he wishes them removed as they are in his way. They are in bad order having been painted to prevent this ????? of cleaning. The arms were of first quality and about 75 in number. Will you please to order them to the arsenal; and in order to save them they ought to be cleaned.
Respectfully
A. Speer